Trump Threatens Federal Takeover of Washington, D.C. Amid Crime Dispute

President Donald Trump has declared a “crime emergency” in Washington, D.C., taking control of the city’s police force and deploying 800 National Guard troops. While Mayor Muriel Bowser cites sharp declines in violent crime, Trump maintains that safety in the capital is still under threat. A full federal takeover would require repealing the Home Rule Act, which is unlikely, but Trump is expanding FBI operations, tightening immigration enforcement, and clearing homeless encampments from federal land. The clash over D.C.’s governance is becoming a major flashpoint in the 2025 election.